Researchers show endangered parrot species is thriving in urban areas

A Texas A&M-led research team has discovered that a population of endangered red-crowned parrots is thriving in urban areas of South Texas. The parrots are a unique case, considering that many animal species are affected negatively by the expansion of human urban areas, which can … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 2 hours ago

Ex-UN climate chief has 'lost patience' with fossil fuel industry

The UN's former climate chief said Thursday she had "lost patience" with fossil fuel companies and that they should steer clear of crunch talks in Dubai if the industry refuses to be part of the solution. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 5 hours ago

Tuvalu will always be a state, even if underwater, says PM

Tuvalu could be one of the first nations to sink beneath the sea as a result of climate change, but that doesn't mean its statehood is up for discussion, the tiny Pacific archipelago's prime minister said Thursday. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 5 hours ago

Brazil court rules for Indigenous land rights in key case

A lopsided majority of Brazil's Supreme Court ruled Thursday against an effort to restrict native peoples' rights to protected reservations on their ancestral lands, in a win for Indigenous activists and climate campaigners. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 5 hours ago

Arson turns Amazon reforestation project to ashes

It was supposed to be a good-news story out of the damaged Amazon rainforest: a project that replanted hundreds of thousands of trees in an illegally deforested nature reserve in Brazil. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 5 hours ago

Australia's firefighters face worst season in years

Volunteer firefighters are scorching Australia's forest undergrowth, reducing fuel for what is expected to be the fiercest fire season since the monster "Black Summer" blazes. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 5 hours ago

Colorful primates don't have better color vision, study finds

Primate species with better color vision are not more likely to have red skin or fur coloration, as previously thought. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 13 hours ago

Peru's Operation Mercury stopped most illegal gold mining in one biodiversity hotspot—then the COVID-19 pandemic hit

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining is a lifeline for many who live in Madre de Dios, a region in southeastern Peru, where poverty is high and jobs are scarce. But the economic development in this part of the Amazon basin comes at a cost, as it causes deforestation, build up of … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 15 hours ago

Diamond materials as solar-powered electrodes: Spectroscopy shows what's important

It sounds like magic: photoelectrodes could convert the greenhouse gas CO2 back into methanol or N2 molecules into valuable fertilizer—using only the energy of sunlight. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 15 hours ago

Conceptual study looks at nanocapsules for scaling up the power of nanotechnology

In a new study, researchers at the University of Missouri have created a proof of concept of a nanocapsule—a microscopic container—capable of delivering a specific "payload" to a targeted location. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 15 hours ago

Researcher uncovers how stereotypes about brilliance shape women's decisions to study psychology or philosophy

Even though women in high school and college tend to outperform men academically, they still internalize the stereotype that brilliance is more linked to men. This belief affects their choice of major and perpetuates gender gaps in academic fields, according to a new study by a F … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 15 hours ago

Teacher well-being not a priority in schools, experts warn

Against a backdrop of funding shortages and recruitment issues across the education sector, two education experts argue that equipping leaders with more soft skills will improve mental health and well-being in school staff. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 15 hours ago

Study shows simulator, combined with app, helps teachers correct mistakes before entering classroom

When pilots, surgeons or others with high-stakes professions are learning their craft, they have simulators with which to practice. Now, a new study shows that a simulator, when combined with software to provide data on performance, can help teachers learn what mistakes to avoid … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 15 hours ago

Quiet cables set to help reveal rare physics events

Imagine trying to tune a radio to a single station but instead encountering static noise and interfering signals from your own equipment. That is the challenge facing research teams searching for evidence of extremely rare events that could help understand the origin and nature o … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 15 hours ago

Researchers ready NASA's SPHEREX space telescope for 2025 launch

NASA's SPHEREx space telescope has been tucked inside a custom-built chamber on and off for the past two months undergoing tests to prepare it for its two-year mission in space. SPHEREx, which stands for Spectro-Photometer for the History of the universe, Epoch of Reionization an … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 16 hours ago

One in three children who've been in care system enter youth justice system, UK research shows

An unprecedented study of 2.3m children has found that one in three children born between 1996 and 1999 who had experience of the care system received a youth justice caution or conviction between the ages of 10 and 17, compared with just 4% of those without experience of care. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 16 hours ago

Jewel of the forest: New electric blue tarantula species discovered in Thailand

In an exciting discovery, a new species of tarantula with electric blue coloration was found in Thailand. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 16 hours ago

Evaluating the shear viscosity of different water models

Water is one of the most abundant substances on Earth and partakes in countless biological, chemical, and ecological processes. Thus, understanding its behavior and properties is essential in a wide variety of scientific and applied fields. To do so, researchers have developed va … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 16 hours ago

Hundreds of weeds found illegally advertised online in Australia

Hundreds of weeds have been found advertised on a public online marketplace in Australia. Cacti and pond plants were among the most frequently advertised illegal weed species. These weeds are prohibited in Australia due to their harmful impact on the country's environment and agr … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 16 hours ago

Generative AI already being used in majority of college classrooms, according to new survey

A new report from Wiley suggests that generative artificial intelligence (AI) is already being used in the majority of college classrooms—and that number could climb quickly. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 16 hours ago

Nanoparticle vaccine candidate shows promise against emerging tick-borne virus in early studies

Cleveland Clinic researchers have used nanoparticles to develop a potential vaccine candidate against Dabie Bandavirus, formerly known as Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus (SFTSV), a tick-borne virus that currently has no prevention, treatment or cure. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 16 hours ago

Two new species of ancient primates resembling lemurs identified

Fossil evidence from the Tornillo Basin in West Texas and the Uinta Basin in Utah reveals two new species of omomyids—a family of small-bodied early primates from the Eocene epoch. The findings also clarify previously disputed taxonomic distinctions among these primates, accordin … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 16 hours ago

Profiling artemisinin's antimalarial mechanism: Research team reveals crucial target proteins

Jigang Wang and colleagues have made significant progress in unraveling the antimalarial mechanisms of artemisinin (ART) and its derivatives. Their latest research, published in the journal Engineering, sheds light on the crucial target proteins and pathways of ART, providing val … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 16 hours ago

Avoiding the 'nothingburger' effect in government contractor mergers and acquisitions

In love and business alike, the laws of attraction can be obscure. Companies pursue mergers and acquisitions (M&A) for a host of reasons ranging from gaining market share to gaming the tax system. In his recently published research, Brett Josephson, associate dean for executive d … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 16 hours ago

New Indo-European language discovered during excavation in Turkey

An excavation in Turkey has brought to light an unknown Indo-European language. Professor Daniel Schwemer, an expert for the ancient Near East, is involved in investigating the discovery. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 16 hours ago

Understanding the role of pareidolia in early human cave art

A psychological phenomenon where people see meaningful forms in random patterns, such as seeing faces in clouds, may have stimulated early humans to make cave art. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 17 hours ago

Exotic tree species in the forest mean loss of grazing land for reindeer

Semi-domesticated reindeer avoid winter habitats with exotic lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), introduced from Northern America. Reduced food supply and dense stands probably contribute to the reindeers' avoidance behavior of areas with tall P. contorta-trees. This is reported by … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 17 hours ago

Lolita the orca's ashes are going home for a traditional water ceremony: Here's what will happen

Lolita, the orca who lived in a tank at the Miami Seaquarium from her capture in 1970 in waters off Washington state to her death 53 years later in August, will be honored in a homecoming Saturday. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 17 hours ago

The silver lining to storm surge: How some baby fish ride out hurricanes to success

Humans loathe the deadly impact of storm surge, and for good reason. But new research shows how juvenile tarpon and snook can actually benefit from it. In turn, scientists are learning how to design more eco-friendly developments that help the fish survive. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 17 hours ago

Research reveals surprising influences on an employee's intention to quit

Research in the International Journal of Enterprise Network Management reveals unexpected factors that influence an employee's intentions to quit their job in information technology. The findings challenge the received wisdom and could shed light on the dynamic role of online pro … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 17 hours ago

El Niño and La Niña: What's it all about?

It's official: An El Niño event is now underway across the Pacific. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 18 hours ago

Hidden ocean the source of carbon dioxide on Jupiter moon: Research

Carbon dioxide detected on Jupiter's moon Europa comes from the vast ocean beneath its icy shell, research using James Webb Space Telescope data indicated on Thursday, potentially bolstering hopes the hidden water could harbor life. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 18 hours ago

NASA's Atmospheric Waves Experiment completes space environment tests

NASA's Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE) has successfully completed critical space environment tests. Planned for launch to the International Space Station in November 2023, AWE will study atmospheric gravity waves in Earth's atmosphere to help us better understand the connectio … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 18 hours ago

The dance of organ positioning: A tango of three proteins

In order to keep track of their environment, cells use cilia, antenna-like structures that can sense a variety of stimuli, including the flow of fluids outside the cell. Genetic defects that cause cilia to malfunction and lose their sensory abilities can result in disorders known … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 18 hours ago

Using harmless light to change azobenzene molecules with new supramolecular complex

Azobenzenes are incredibly versatile and have many potential uses, such as in making tiny machines and improving technology as well as making light controllable drugs. This molecule can switch between two different forms by light. However, the two forms are in equilibrium, which … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 18 hours ago

Curbing violence in Mexico: Disrupting cartel recruitment holds the key, new study finds

Not through courts and not through prisons. The only way to reduce violence in Mexico is to cut off recruitment. Increasing incapacitation instead leads to both more homicides and cartel members, researcher Rafael Prieto-Curiel from the Complexity Science Hub and colleagues show … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 18 hours ago

Overfishing and climate change impacts on New Zealand's fish populations were hidden—until now

Pelagic-oceanic fish commonly caught in warmer waters, such as skipjack tuna and blue mackerel, have been increasing in New Zealand's waters since the 1950s, while cold-water species such as southern bluefin tuna display strong reductions in overall catch from the 1970s onwards, … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 18 hours ago

Conversations with plants: Can we provide plants with advance warning of impending dangers?

Imagine if humans could "talk" to plants and pre-warn them of approaching pest attacks or extreme weather. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 18 hours ago

Global study reveals extensive impact of metal mining contamination on rivers and floodplains

A study, published in Science, has provided new insights into the extensive impact of metal mining contamination on rivers and floodplains across the world, with an estimated 23 million people believed to be affected by potentially dangerous concentrations of toxic waste. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 18 hours ago

Bridging the gap: New terrain smoothing method refines downslope windstorm modeling

Researchers from the UK Met Office, in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, have developed an advanced terrain-smoothing technique that significantly improves the modeling of downslope windstorms. This innovative approach, detailed in a recent study … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 18 hours ago

Video: Firefoxes and whale spouts light up Earth's shield

Did you know the Northern lights or Aurora Borealis are created when the mythical Finnish "firefox" runs so quickly across the snow that its tail causes sparks to fly into the night sky? | Continue reading


@phys.org | 18 hours ago

Chicago's West Side is an air pollution hotspot, new study finds

The western edge of Chicago—including the North and South Lawndale, East Garfield Park, Archer Heights and Brighton Park neighborhoods—experiences up to 32% higher concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) air pollution compared to the rest of the city, a new Northwestern Universi … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 18 hours ago

How racism shapes Black motherhood in the US

Being a mom is hard. Being a Black mom is especially hard. A new study from North Carolina State University underscores the ways that being a Black mother in the United States involves navigating aspects of parenthood that are explicitly tied to dealing with anti-Black racism. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 18 hours ago

Achromatic diffractive liquid-crystal optics for virtual reality displays

As a promising candidate for the next-generation mobile platform, mixed reality (MR) such as Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest Pro (both are passthrough virtual reality headsets) has the potential to revolutionize the way we perceive and interact with various digital information. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 18 hours ago

Exploring Earth's mantle through microseisms

The ocean is constantly whirring with activity. The pressure from this constant roiling and swelling is one cause of microseisms—random, nearly imperceptible vibrations of Earth that also can be produced by human activities like vehicular traffic. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 18 hours ago

Investigating invasive plants as roadside contaminant removal tools

Tall, densely growing Phragmites and cattail (Typha) are familiar plants alongside highways and byways in the northern United States, flourishing in salty roadsides and degraded wetland environments created by chemicals applied to roads in the colder months known as deicers. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 19 hours ago

Researchers call for change to Irish schoolyards to support children's play

Researchers are calling for increased attention to the design of schoolyards and provision of diverse spaces for play in primary schools, to address issues of exclusion, bullying and racism in Irish schoolyards. | Continue reading


@phys.org | 19 hours ago

Suicide in Ghana: Society expects men to be providers. A new study explores this pressure

Suicide is a complex behavior that is widely regarded as a significant public health issue across the globe. It is influenced by psychiatric, psychological, biological, social, cultural, economic and existential factors. In most countries, the rate of male suicides is between 3 a … | Continue reading


@phys.org | 19 hours ago